2nd day at Mount Vernon, VA

These oxen were being used to plow the gardens which are still used to producevegetables and fruit. These oxen also tried to run Laurie over.

The new tomb was completed in 1831 and Washington's body was moved here along with the remains of his wife Martha and other family members.

We went back to Mount Vernon to finish our visit. The grounds are so beautiful. There were a total of 5 working farms on George's property. He liked to experiment with seeds and plants and didn't think you should ever have to "buy" seeds. He invented a "treading barn" for the horses to tread wheat, improving the processing of wheat. George was known to have said to Martha, he is most happy at home and tending to his farming. It is said that he thought of himself first and foremost as a farmer.

There is a slave memorial on the property as well. It was built to honor the more than 300 slaves who lived and worked here.

This is a replica of a slave cabin used by the slaves that tended one of the gardens.

Inside of the slave cabin

Inside of the treading barn. Slaves spread harvested wheat on the outer circle of the floor. Horses trotted in a circular path and the impact of their hooves broke the wheat out of the straw. The loose grain fell through gaps between the floorboards to the level below, where the grain was shoveled into bins.

The outside of the 16 sided treading barn

This is the original tomb where George Washington was buried along with twenty other relatives. However, before his death he had selected a site for a new brick tomb to replace the original burial vault which was deteriorating.

George attempted to replace his wood fences with "live" fences; hedges so dense that they would turn away all animals.